Apparatus foe malting



(No Mode 1.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' W, P. HOWE.

APPARATUS FOR MALTINGQ Patented Feb. 13

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w. P. HOWE. APPARATUS FOR MALTING.

No. 272,267. Y Patented Feb. 13,1883.-

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vW. P. HOWE.

, APPARATUS FOR MALTING.

Patented Feb. 13, 1883.

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N0. 272,257. Fig. El

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY N. FEYERS Phml-Mngnpfnr, Wmhinglnn, D. C

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HOWE, OFOHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T ANDREW J. REYNOLDS, orSAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR MALTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,257, dated February13,1883. Application filed April 18, Iss2. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 1 Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Home, ofOhicago,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Apparatus for Melting, of which the followingis a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved mechanism, showingthe furnace in section. Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the chest or carwith one end removed and a portion of the supporting-frame broken away.Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device represented in Fig. 2, and Fig.4 is a side elevation of the same device. Fig. 5 is a verticaltransverse section in line a; 00 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation,

- of the construction of the car floors or partitions.

Similarletters ofreferenceindicatelike parts.

The object of the present invention is to avoid all the inconvenience,expense, and loss attendant upon the ordinary methods of maltin g, asthe art is generally practiced with the malting-floor, the laborious andexpensive method of shoveling the grain over and over, and the practiceof removing ittoa separate dryingroom and again handling it over andover therein, by providing for a mechanical manipulation of the grainduring the entire process in such a manner as to insure the even,uniform condition most favorable to proper germination for maltingpurposes, and to secure the necessary shifting and agitation of thegrain when in the kiln with the least expenditure of manual labor, andwhich shall thus obviate the defects hitherto existing in this class ofapparatus.

In carrying my invention into practice I construct a metallic portableor movable germinator capable of being rotated at will on or around itsown horizontal axis. This vessel is divided by perforated longitudinalpartitions into a series of compartments, in order to separate thecharge of grain into layers of suitable thick ness for properlygerminating, with air-spaces between the layers, the said partitionsforming horizontal floors to support the different layers of grainduring germination. I further divide each of said compartmentslongitudinally by one or more partitions, which stand vertically whenthe vessel is in a position for germinating, and which divide each ofsaid layers of grain into different longitudinal sections, in order toprevent the charge from shifting from one side of the compartments tothe other during the rotation of the vessel on its axis. Thefloors, as Ishall term said horizontal partitions, are further provided with doorsor valves, through which, when open,communication may be had from onecompartment to another for .the purpose of introducing or removing thegrain. The walls of the vessel are perforated, so that air-currents canenter and pass through the vessel and the grain contained therein. Inext provide a suitable drying room and furnace, into which the portablegerminator can be moved,with its contained charge, at the end of thegerminating process, for the purpose of drying the malt in the vessel,and, after the drying and removal of the malt,for the further purpose ofcleansing the vessel by the action of heat or fire from said furnace. Arefrigerating-room is also provided, into which the was sel, with itscontained grain, maybe moved from time to time during the germinatingprocess, for the purpose of regulating and controlling the temperatureof the several compartments of the vessel; or the same result may beaccomplished by blowers communicating with the interior of the vessel bymeans of air-pipes. If desired at any time to wash the vessels withwater, a bath may be arranged, to which the vessels can be moved for thepurpose. All these various rooms-namely, the germinatingroom, in whichthe vessels stand during the process of germination, therefrigerating'room, the bath, and the drying-room-are connected bysuitable floors or tracks, whereon the vessels can be moved back andforth from one to another, as required by the exigencies of the work.

The following is a description in detail of my improved apparatus, andof the manner in which it should be employed to secure the best results:

In the drawings, A A are rails or a track of any suitable constructionand form, adapted to support the movable vehicles and enable them to berun back and forth from one point to another during the manufacture ofthe malt.

They may be provided with cross-tracks or branches and turn-tables orother track-shifting devices to enable the cars to be run onto sidetracks or shifted from the main track. A plain solid floor might besubstituted for the track; but a guide-track is greatly preferable. Themain track may be straight, curved, orcircular,accordingto theconditionsof space, &c., in the building in which the apparatus is used. The mainportions of the track are in a germinating-room, \V, the temperature ofwhich is kept at the proper condition for the work. This track or wayruns under the steep B, from which the moist grain is received forgermination, and it also runs into the refrigerating-room It, the kilnor drying-room 1), and the bath 0, so that the germinating-car E can berun upon it from any one of said places to another. The body of the carE is capable of being rotated upon its horizontal axis as well as movedforward and back on the track.

The germinating-vessel is made in the form preferably of a square box,mounted either on trunnions t, in a frame, T, which runs on wheels t, asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, :l, or mounted directly on large wheels orrollers t as shown in Fig. 6. When mounted on trunnions in a carirame itshould be provided with a crank, it, and a gearing, u, as represented inFig. 4, for easily rotating it on its axis. When mounted directly uponwheels or rollers fixed to its ends,as represented in Fig. 6, it willrotate on its axis as it moves along on the track. \Vhen the grain is grminating or COoling or drying it will be necessary to rotate the vesselin a sta'ndingposition, and to this end sets of friction-rollers r 1'may be provided at the proper points along the track, on which thevessel E will simply rotate on its axis without changing position andwithout the application of much power. The relative size of the wheels tand vessel E (shown in Fig. 6) is not material and maybe varied atpleasure, and the vessel may be held above the level of the track or mayproject down between the rails at the pleasure of the constructor.

The internal construction and arrangement of the germinating-vessel Eare substantially as follows: It is divided by partitions or doors E E Einto a series of compartments, G H I. These floors are made in pivotedsections a c e, which can be tilted by means of rods 6, extendingthrough the walls of the vessel, so that the workmen can tilt themwithout opening the car. Suitable stops or locking devices on theoutside of the car may be applied to the rods to prevent the floors fromaccidentally tilting during the rotation of the vessel. The floors canbe made of flat sections, as shown in Fig. 7, or in zigzag form, asshown in Figs. 2, 5, in which latter case alternate sections 0 need nottilt, but may be fixed rigidly in position, as shown. In theinteriorcompartments, H and I, sieves K K are arranged in guides runninglengthwise of the walls of the Vessel, and are severally provided withrods k, by which they may be shaken without opening the car. The top andbottom of the car are to be perforated, as shown in Fig. 2, for thepassage of air. The floors E E E are also to be perforated for the samepurpose. The top of the car is provided with a door for the admission ofthe grain, and the bottom may have a door for discharging the grain; orthe top maybe used for both purposes. Any suitable device may beemployed for fastening these doors, so that they will not accidentallyopen and any suitable device may also be used to hold the vessel E in anupright position and prevent itfrom turning under an unequal weight ofgrain when it is not desirable to rotate it. The vessel E may contain asmany floors as the constructor may deem best for his purposes.

Inpracticing the process herein described the car is run under the steepand charged with the grain. The charging may be effected by firstclosing the bottom door and all the tloors and opening the top door,then about half-tilling the compartment G, then tilting the floors so asto let that portion of the charge fall into the lowertloor, then closingthe floors and halftilliug the compartment G again, then dropplug thatpart of the charge into the middle tioor, then closing the upper floorand half-filling the compartment Gr again, and finally- .closing the topdoor.

ing the compartment in which it rests, thus leaving abundant space overeach layer for air, and making room for the proper shaking up andoverturning of the grain during the rotation of the vessel. Thecompartments G H I are further subdivided by partitionsg g h h it,

running longitudinally of the vessel and attached directly to the same,which divide each layer of grain into separate sections, preventing itfrom falling too heavily from one side of the car to the other duringthe rotation of the car, and insuring a more equal distribution of itover each floor. The sieves K K break the wet grain apart as it fallsthrough them, and thus prevent it from growing together or caking duringits treatment. The vessel thus charged and closed is moved from underthe steep to any suitable point on the track, or onto a side track, andallowed to stand for the process of germination to go on. From time totime, as often as necessary, it is turned over on its axis as a centeras many times as experience may show will best shake it up to equalizethe temperature of the various parts of the charge and bring thoseportions to the surface which were not at the surface before. Thescreens or sieves allow the grains to pass separately,but not in cakes.If the grainshows signs of germinating too fast or becomes too muchheated, the vessel is moved off to the refrigerating-room and allowed tostand there until the evil is counteracted; and to facilitate andequalize the cooling while there it may be again rotated upon its axisin the refrigerating-room as often as may be judged expedient.

When the germination is completed the caris moved to the kiln,asrepresented at the left-hand end of Figs. 1, 6, and allowed to remainthere until the drying or baking is completed. While this part of theprocess is going on the vessel should be again rotated on its axis fromtime to tinge, as often as may be desirable, for the purpose ofpreventing any part of the charge from being unduly heated, and ofrendering the drying or baking uniform throughout the entire charge fromthe commencement to the end of the drying process. The vapors evolvedfrom the drying grain will partially or entirely escape through theperforations in the top of the vessel and pass 01f through the flue ofthe kiln. To insure a full and free escape of such vapors one or bothof'the trunnions on the end of the car may be provided with a tubularpassage, in or through which the air and moisture in the vessel may bedrawn ofl' by a pipe and any exhaust mechanism, or may be permittedsimply to flow off. The trunnion or tube should have a'suitable couplingfor attaching therxhaust-pipe.

To more effectually concentrate the hot air of.the furnace upon the carthe hood N of the furnace may be raised, lowered, and adjusted inposition by a Windlass, N, and chains n a. When the malt is completelydried in all or any one of the compartments of the car the.

car is run out of the kiln to a point over a discharge-chute, 0, and thecharge is delivered through the chute to the floor below; or a suitablechute may be arranged in the dryingroom itself. The car may then, iffully discharged, be taken to the bath and cleansed. To expedite thisoperation the bath-tub (3 may be made large enough to receive the lowerend of the vessel E and allow it to rotate therein, and may be made tohoist up and lower down by a Windlass and chains, 0. Then by simplyraising up the tub till the lowerpart or the vesselE is submerged androtating the latter the washing can be easily done, after which the bathis lowered and the car moved away to dry.

The highest heat ordinarily used in drying malt-to wit, thefurnishingheat of about 180 Fahrenheit-will of itself kill all fermentation andall ordinary insects and animal germs; but to insure the thoroughdestruction of bacteria and other more refractory animalculte the car,after being emptied of its contents, may

be subjected, without inconvenience or delay, to aheat of severalhundred degrees, which no known vegetable or animal life can withstand.The cleaning of the melting-surfaces 'thevkiln or refrigerator.

is thus effectual] y secured as an incident of the system,,and itsimportance will be readily appreciated by all w ho have had anypractical experience in the art.

When the rolling car, as shown in Fig. 6, is employed it may be providedwith any suitable guide or guide-frame to keep it from veering andwedging on the track or running off the track 5 and to this end two ormore rolling any desired "number of germinating-cars may be employed,and one or more kilns or refrigerating-rooms may be used. Some cars maybe charging, others discharging, others drying, others cooling, andothers germinating, all at the same time, The various steps of the workwill thus go on harmoniously with the utmost economy of time, labor, andexpense, and a few workmen, in a comparatively small building, caneasily perform the work which has heretofore required a large force oflaborers and an extensive malting-floor to accomplish. This process,moreover, is not restricted to the cooler seasons of the year, like theold process in general use, but can be carried on successfully at allseasons, as my provision I for regulating the temperatureof the grainand cleansing the floors by heat renders me independent of climate orweather.

It will of course be seen that in lieu of conveying thegerminating-vessel itself, with its contained grain,-into'the kiln orrefrigerator a second car might be employed to receive the grain fromthe germinator and transport it to Such awkward and inconvenient planwould have no advantage over the better plan above described.

It may be further explained that the open ings and collars for attachingthe exhaustpipe need-not necessarily be limited to the tubulartrunnions, but may be arranged at any point or points in the sides orends of the car, provision being made for closing them and holding themclosed when necessary; but the tubular trunnions are preferred onaccount of their axial position.

During the germinating part of the process it may sometimes beconsidered desirable to force the air through or into the germinatingcars or vessels, in order to assure a full and steady supply of oxygenand nitrogen to the sprouting grain, the adequate airing of the grain atthis stage of its treatment being of vital importance to the healthydevelopment of the germs. To this end pipes may be laid along between orbeside the tracks or arranged overhead, with flexible: or jointedconnections or branches for coupling to the tubular collars of the cars,and air may thus be forced into or through the germinating grain in thecars by any suitable blowers connected with the main pipes. \Vith thepipes and couplings thus provided the grain may be aired as often asdesired; or the airing may be omitted altogether when notdeemednecessary. Flexible hose and couplings like those used with theWestinghouse air-brake will admirably answer the purpose for connectingthe mains to the cars. it

Havingthus described my invention I claim as new- 1. As an improvementin malting apparatus, a germinating-vessel provided with means formoving and rotating the same about its horizontal axis, said vesselbeing divided into compartments by horizontal perforated floors orpartitions, and said compartments being further divided bylongitudinalvertical partitions, substantially as described, whereby the charge ofgrain is distributed into separate layers with intervening air-spaces,and the layers are prevented from unduly shifting from side to side ofthe vessel during its rotation on its said axis.

2. 1n malting apparatus, a germinating-ves sel provided with means formoving and rotating the same about its horizontal axis, divided intocompartments by horizontal perforated floors, said compartments beingfurtherdivided by longitudinal vertical partitions, and having thecoarse sieves interposed in the compartments to prevent the matting ofthe grain, substantially as described. 2

WILLIAM F. HOWE. \Vitnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, L. HILL.

